German’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, is planning to establish a new satellite system to reduce its dependence on providers such as Elon Musk’s Starlink.
In its new military strategy – a classified foundational document – ensuring “the security and sovereignty of Germany in space” is defined as a “core objective of military action”, reports German news magazine Der Spiegel.
Although the Bundeswehr already possesses a limited number of communications satellites that provide secure channels, the existing SATCOMBw system was sufficient only for a few overseas deployments, such as those in Afghanistan or Mali, which could be covered by geostationary satellites.
For national and alliance defence within the NATO framework, however, this approach is now “largely obsolete,” a high-ranking Bundeswehr general told the magazine. What is required is a comprehensive network of communications satellites that would allow the Bundeswehr to operate globally.
Plans for a German mini-version of Starlink are already in the drawer, and the defence ministry leadership has confirmed the necessity of the project. The multi-billion-euro undertaking has become a realistic prospect since defence spending was largely exempted from the national debt brake.
The plan is to launch around 300 small satellites into orbit over the coming years. By 2029, at least a rudimentary network could be in place, which would then be further expanded. “In the future, every tank commander will need fresh aerial imagery every few seconds – without our own satellite network, that simply won’t be possible,” said a Bundeswehr general.
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